Why choose outdoor fabrics PFAS-free?

Recently at the NMMA meeting, the topic of PFAS-free was raised again in marine fabrics. PFAS is a chemical compound made up of carbon and fluorine atoms, which is highly stabilizing and hydrophobic, and therefore also widely used in waterproof materials.

1. What is the problem with PFAS?

2. Why choose Sileather silicone fabric?

1. What is the problem with PFAS?

However, PFAS are called "permanent chemicals" because they hardly decompose in the environment, leading to long-term contamination of water, soil, and living organisms.

(1) First and foremost, one of the main problems with PFAS is that they can leach into water sources, leading to contamination of drinking water. This contamination has been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and developmental problems in children. For example, some studies have found that exposure to PFAS is associated with an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as kidney and testicular cancer. In addition, the effects of PFAS on the liver include abnormal liver function and fatty liver disease. For the immune system, PFAS has been found to reduce the effectiveness of vaccines and increase the risk of infection. In children, PFAS exposure may lead to developmental delays and behavioral problems.

(2) Second, the persistent and bioaccumulative nature of PFAS in the environment makes their effects even more far-reaching. These chemicals can persist in the environment and accumulate in organisms through the food chain, affecting the entire ecosystem. For example, PFAS can accumulate in fish and other aquatic organisms, which can then travel through the food chain to birds, mammals, and ultimately humans. Wildlife studies have shown that animals exposed to high levels of PFAS often exhibit reproductive problems, impaired immune systems, and behavioral changes.

(3) In addition, the contamination of soil by PFAS cannot be ignored. Contaminated soil can pass PFAS to humans through crops, further extending its reach. Even in industrial and waste treatment processes, PFAS is difficult to completely remove or degrade, thus continuing to pollute the environment.

With all of these hazards, more and more places are beginning to take steps to restrict or ban the use of PFAS. This may be the reason that NMMA's initiative for PFAS Free is so important. the use of this class of chemicals in waterproof fabrics has brought convenience. Still, its long-term environmental and health hazards cannot be ignored. By reducing or replacing PFAS, we can effectively mitigate their risks and promote safer and sustainable textile production and use.

2. Why choose Sileather silicone fabrics?

In 2016, Sileather started to launch silicone fabrics for the marine outdoor market, which have 8 years of practical application experience so far, and are widely used as upholstery fabric on boats and cruise ships, waterproof and PFAS-free is one of its outstanding advantages as an outdoor fabric.

The waterproof effect can be achieved without adding any waterproof materials or treatments because of the properties of the material itself. Sileather's Capri is a line of 100% silicone-coated polyester base fabrics specifically designed for the outdoor and marine markets. The hydrophobicity of silicone due to its low surface tensile energy is the only reason why Sileather's silicone fabrics are waterproof.